Furrowed Middlebrow Friday—Double the Fun! 🤩📗💕

Hooray for Furrowed Middlebrow Friday! 🥳🎉✨📚

Today, I'm reviewing TWO Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow books...isn't that exciting?!?

Before my reviews, I just wanted to say that I'm dying to buy and read the upcoming NEW Furrowed Middlebrow titles by Dean Street Press Ltd.! They include:

D.E. Stevenon Upcoming Book Cover Images from Dean Street Press website.

1. D.E. Stevenson's Bel Lamington and Fletcher's End (One of my favorite series!!) 
2. Dorothy Lambert's  All I Desire, Scotch Mist, Staying Put and Harvest Home (These are going to be sooo good!) 

Dorothy Lambert Upcoming Book Cover Images from Dean Street Press website.

REVIEW #1 - Kate Hardy by D.E. Stevenson

Rating: 4🌟

The first book in our Buncle And Beyond read-along for March! I was so excited to partner up with Niki (@nikilovestoread) and Sabine (@sabines.literary.world) to celebrate our love of D.E. Stevenson! (Use the #BuncleAndBeyond hashtag on Instagram if you share a post!) 🥳

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
💚 Kate's confidence, talent and clear-headedness
💚 Walter's solid presence, stability, responsibility and thoughtfulness
💚 The lovely Dower House—I wish there were illustrations to show the inside! I want to live there!
💚 Crabby, but reliable and loyal Martha
💚 Charming and helpful Mrs. Stark

WHAT DROVE ME CRAZY:
❊ Kate's self-centered and manipulative sister, Milly 
❊ Her spoiled and selfish niece, Minty
❊ The slightly unsettling feeling of the country village of Old Quinings
❊ Two people who I wanted to end up together did not 😢

With the added bonus of Kate's career as a writer, lots of cozy descriptions of moving into the Dower House and some lovely (I wish they were my friends) characters, this D.E. Stevenson title was a fantastic read. It wasn't a 5 star for me, but I still really liked it. 

But, what I loved most was the small autobiographical section at the end in DES's own words! It was like reading a letter that she wrote to me and I absolutely fell even more into a fan-girl feeling for DES!! 😍❤️

Victoria from Dean Street Press Ltd. mentioned that fans of DES are called "Dessies" and I'm proud to give myself this label. Are you a "Dessie", too? 

P.S. This is my favorite excerpt written in the autobiographical sketch section: 

"I write all my books in longhand, lying on a sofa near the window in my drawing room. I begin by thinking it all out and then I take a pencil and jot it all down in a notebook. When that stage is over I begin at the beginning and go on like mad until I get to the end. After that I have a little rest and then polish it up and rewrite bits of it. When I can do no more to it I pack it up, smother the parcel with sealing wax, and despatch it to be typed. I am now free as air and somewhat dazed, so I ring up all my friends (who have been neglected for months) and say, "Come and have a party.'" 

REVIEW #2 - Much Dithering by Dorothy Lambert

Rating: 4.5🌟

Light, amusing and wonderfully fun! Much Dithering is definitely one of those books that's perfect for when you're feeling down and just want a little story to perk you up. It's not overly sweet or filled with tension—Dorothy Lambert's book about the small English country village of Much Dithering (and its environs) is the perfect balance of both.  

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK: 
💖 Similar writing style to D.E. Stevenson and Susan Scarlett
💖 Sweet, clever and also funny at the same time
💖 Memorable characters with a lot of spark (either you're rooting for them or they're so loathsome that you want to give them a good shake)
💖 Dear innocent Jocelyn Renshawe (I love the way her character evolves!)
💖 Absolute redemption at the very end of the book! (yes!!)
💖 A small mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end (you'll probably guess, but it's an awesome element all the same)
💖 Handsome and charming Gervase Blythe, a mysterious gentleman visitor to the village

DESPISED CHARACTERS:
❊ Jocelyn's mother (who pretends she's not her mother), Ermyntrude (ugh!)
❊ The wet blanket and blustering Colonel Tidmarsh (shiver!)

I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to reading another Dorothy Lambert novel! Thank goodness that Dean Street Press is republishing 4 more of her titles this summer. Yipppee! If you haven't seen the covers yet, you must take a look at the DSP website/Instagram. They're absolutely beautiful!! They're going to look so lovely on my bookshelves 😍

If you love vintage stories with village scandal, gossiping/spying neighbors, young and unappreciated widows who are trying to find their way in the world and several small romances/intrigues, this is the book for you!! 

Highly recommended! 

If you haven't read either of these books, please consider giving them a try! They're both such enjoyable and light reads—I have a soft spot for both authors (one old favorite and one new favorite!)

Comment below if you've read/loved/didn't love or want to read either (or both!) of these DSP titles! 

**Join Niki, Sabine, Dean Street Press and I for #BuncleAndBeyond for April and May! We'll be reading The Musgraves in April and Five Windows in May. Hope you'll read along with us for the #BuncleAndBeyondReadalong! 😍❤️📕**

Happy April! Lots of love and springtime hugs!  💕🌷🤗🌷💕

P.S. I wanted to share a recent antique store find/gift from Ian—a gorgeous, mid-century, filigree sterling silver jewelry set with blue topaz stones. Isn't it amazing?? I cannot believe this dainty (size 5.5) little ring fit! I'm hoping to wear it when I visit Persephone Books in a few weeks!! Yay!

I was so lucky to have a gift card from my friend Heather! Ian paid the rest. What a treat!

I love blue topaz so much! The design is really floral and delicate. Definitely my style!

Noel Streatfeild Book Collection! ☺️💝📚

Happy March, Friends! 

I hope you're not sick of seeing another book collection post - lol! I couldn't resist sharing the (current) Noel Streatfeild books in my little home library. (Pssst...I'm hoping to share my Susan Scarlett book collection soon, too. I'm almost done reading all 12 Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow editions—woo!) 

There's something very special about Noel Streatfeild stories...they're heartfelt, family-rich, cozy, real, and full of authentic characters you feel like you know (or want to know). Sometimes I feel frustrated with the "baddies" (usually selfish, pompous, close-minded individuals), but things always seem to turn out alright—and that's why I love her books. 

I would love to say that I know a great deal about this lovely, spirited and incredibly talented author, but I only know the smallest amount (at the moment!) You should definitely check out her Wikipedia page to learn more about her fascinating life!

Today, Liz (@pony.books) and I are so excited to do a collab post on Instagram sharing all of our updated Noel Streatfeild treasures for Book Friday Friday!

I really loved my collab last year with Sue (@myownbookjourneys) last year, too! She has the BEST vintage editions—I'm still drooling over them in a serious way! 😍❤️📚

I also wanted to thank Beth of Small Home Comforts for inspiring me to keep reading more NS books this year! Her hashtag of #yearwithstreatfeild2026 is so fun and includes a wonderful variety of titles. I'm following along this year and I hope you will, too!

BOOK RATINGS:

(These are listed in the order that I read them. Only one book I've read as a child. The rest were read in my late 40s until now. Also, you can also find my full reviews of these books on Goodreads!) 

Ballet Shoes 5🌟 (child), 3.5🌟 (adult)
Saplings 3🌟
The Bell Family/Family Shoes 4🌟
A Vicarage Family 4.5🌟
Caldicott Place 3🌟
Apple Bough 4🌟
Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories 4🌟
The Growing Summer 3.5🌟
Thursday's Child 4🌟
New Town/New Shoes 4🌟
Noel Streatfeild's Holiday Stories 4🌟
Christmas with the Chrystals 3.5🌟
The House in Cornwall 4.5🌟
Skating Shoes 5🌟
Theatre Shoes 5🌟
Movie Shoes/The Painted Garden 3.75🌟 
The First Book of Ballet 4.75🌟
Dancing Shoes 4🌟   

2026/2027 TBR:

• Aunt Clara
• Ballet Shoes for Anna 
• The Years of Grace 
• Circus Shoes
• Tennis Shoes
• Party Shoes/Party Frock 
• By Special Request
• The Children of Primrose Lane 
• The Gemma Series
• Birthday Book

 

WISHLIST:

• Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Annual
• Mothering Sunday 
• It Pays to Be Good
• The Winter is Past 
• Noel Streatfeild: A Biography 
• Judith
• Caroline England
• The Whicharts 
• I Ordered a Table for Six
• Tea by the Nursery Fire
• The Maitlands 
• Gemma and Gemma & Sisters 
• Parson's Nine
• Grass in Piccadilly  

NOTE ON FIRST PHOTO IN POST: The photo in top left picture frame was printed out from the National Portrait Gallery website. (Photo by Bassano Ltd.) The photo in the lower right gold picture frame was printed out from Getty Images website. This photo features Noel Streatfeild autographs a copy of her book 'The Years of Grace' for actress Barbara Murray (1929 - 2014), circa 1950. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.)

HELPFUL LINKS: 

•  Royal Literary Fund 
•  Streatfeild: The Story of a Life by Susan Peak 
•  Books for Keeps
•  Persephone Books
•  Encyclopedia.com
•  Dean Street Press (for Susan Scarlett)

Wishing you the most wonderful weekend, sweet friends! Let me know your favorite book(s) by Noel Streatfeild in the comments below! 💕❄️🤗❄️💕

Audrey Hepburn: A Celebration! 🤩✨💖🎬

Happy Publication Day to 4 NEW Dean Street Press biographies by Sheridan Morley 🤩✨

 "I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally. I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seem to have accomplished far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it. " - Audrey Hepburn from Audrey Hepburn: A Celebration

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." - Audrey Hepburn

"I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another one, and I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of Audrey Hepburn: A Celebration! 

✨ Sparkling writing 
✨ Easy to read
✨ Addictively enjoyable 
✨ Excellent choice of chapter divisions/subjects 

This book was absolutely wonderful and incredibly charming! I adored Sheridan Morely’s tone and the way he described Audrey’s life. This is a MUST read if you love Audrey!

I’ve been a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn since I was a teen. But, it wasn’t until I was an adult (and learned more about her as a person) that I realized her incredible strength, generosity of spirit, humility, and deep love of people—especially children. 

Since then, she has been an inspiration and role model for me. I strive towards being as open-hearted, generous and brave as she was. Dear Audrey, I wish I could have met you!

MY FAVORITE MOVIES:
Roman Holiday
Sabrina
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
The Children’s Hour
Charade
The Nun’s Story
 
MY FAVORITE BOOKS ABOUT AUDREY: 
Audrey at Home
Audrey Hepburn: A Celebration
Just Being Audrey
The Audrey Hepburn Treasures
Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit
Audrey Hepburn: Portrait of an Icon

FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Gardens of the World

MORE BOOKS ABOUT/BASED ON AUDREY HEPBURN:
The Audrey Hepburn Estate by Brenda Janowitz
Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen
Enchantment by Donald Spoto

The other Dean Street Press biographies in this series include Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Oscar Wilde. 

Sprint to your local bookstore or online shop to order your copy today! You’ll absolutely love them! 🤩🌟📚

Thank you so much for sharing an advanced copy of this book to read and review, Dean Street Press! I'm endlessly grateful!

What’s your favorite Audrey Hepburn movie or book? 🤔🎬

Happy Monday, Friends! 💙❄️🤗❄️💙

D.E. Stevenson Book Collection (and Readalong)! ☺️📘💕🌸

Do you love D.E. Stevenson as much as I do? 😍📚❤️ If so, I'm co-hosting a DES Read-Along with Sabine and Niki on Instagram and we would be so happy if you'd join us! 

HELPFUL INFO:

❊ March 2026: Kate Hardy (Tentative Discussion Date March 28/29th)
❊ April 2026: The Musgraves
❊ May 2026: Five Windows 
❊ Hashtag: If you want to tag us (@babsbelovedbooks, @nikilovestoread @sabines.literary.world and @dean_street_press_ltd) in any read-along posts you share on IG, please use the hashtag #BuncleAndBeyond so we won't miss it!
❊ To Join: Simply read along with us and, if you'd like, join our IG discussions at the end of the month. No pressure to do anything else. We will share all information about the date of discussions on our IG posts. 

Lucky for us, Dean Street Press has republished 19 of D.E. Stevenson's novels for readers to enjoy! The paperback covers are gorgeous! But, if paperbacks are hard for you to read, it's so awesome that they offer e-book versions, too. Yay! (Isn't it awesome that two more are being published this summer! Check out the covers for Bel Lamington and Fletcher's End!)

HELPFUL LINKS: 

•  The website, Book Series in Order, also has additional (and interesting) information on Dorothy Emily Stevenson.  
• Michelle (@myeclecticshelf on Instagram) also shared this very helpful 'The World of DES" website with our readalong group—thank you!
• Alison's D.E. Stevenson's Characters, Links and Locations page 

So far, I've read 45/53 books by D.E. Stevenson...according to the lists I've found. If you see any books I'm missing—please share the title(s) below or send me a DM via Instagram! 

I'm really excited to share my vintage and republished DES editions with you! Here they are, along with titles and book ratings!

MY BOOK RATINGS:

The English Air 5🌟
Blow the Wind Southerly/The Enchanted Isle/Charlotte Fairlie 5🌟
Rochester’s Wife 5🌟
Katherine Wentworth 5🌟
Katherine’s Marriage 5🌟
The Fair Miss Fortune 5🌟
Green Money 5🌟
Young Mrs. Savage 4.5🌟
The House on the Cliff 5🌟
Blue Sapphire 5🌟
Alister and Co./It’s Nice to Be Me 5🌟 (poetry)
Sarah Morris Remembers 5🌟
Sarah's Cottage 4🌟 
Bel Lamington 4🌟
Fletcher's End 5🌟
Vittoria Cottage 5🌟
Music in the Hills 3🌟 
Winter and Rough Weather 4🌟
Anna & Her Daughters 4.5🌟
Kate Hardy 4🌟 
Golden Days 4🌟

Mrs. Tim of the Regiment 5🌟
Mrs. Tim Carries On 4🌟
Mrs. Tim Gets a Job 4🌟
Mrs. Tim Flies Home 4.5🌟
The Baker’s Daughter/Miss Bun 4.5🌟
Miss Buncle’s Book 4🌟
Miss Buncle Married 4🌟
The Two Mrs. Abbots 4.5🌟
The Four Graces 4.5🌟
Gerald and Elizabeth 4🌟 
Amberwell 4🌟
Summerhills 4🌟
Celia's House 4🌟
Listening Valley 5🌟

The Young Clementina/Divorced from Reality/Miss Dean's Dilemma 4🌟
Still Glides the Stream 4🌟
Spring Magic 3🌟
The Musgraves 4🌟
Peter West 3.5🌟
Emily Dennistoun 4🌟
The Tall Stranger 4.5🌟
Rosabelle Shaw 3.75🌟
Crooked Adam 3🌟
The House of the Deer 2🌟

TBR:  
Five Windows 
The Empty World/A World in Spell
Found in the Attic 
Smouldering Fire 
Jean Erekin’s Secret 
Portrait of Saskia
The Starry Mantle (poetry) 
Meadow-flowers (poetry)

(Note: Some of the books in the TBR list above were also republished by Greyladies or Lume Books and, if you're lucky, can be found online via Ebay, Abebooks, ThriftBooks, Mercari, Etsy, Biblio, World of Books, or Amazon.) 

FAVORITE QUOTES FROM DES:

"I write all my books in longhand, lying on a sofa near the window in my drawing room. I begin by thinking it all out and then I take a pencil and jot it all down in a notebook. When that stage is over I begin at the beginning and go on like mad until I get to the end. After that I have a little rest and then polish it up and rewrite bits of it. When I can do no more to it I pack it up, smother the parcel with sealing wax, and despatch it to be typed. I am now free as air and somewhat dazed, so I ring up all my friends (who have been neglected for months) and say, 'Come and have a party.'"

"Friends are like windows in a house, a what a terribly dull house it would be that had no windows.  They open vistas, they show one new and lovely views of the countryside. Friends give one new ideas, new values, new interests. Thank God for friends!"

"Someday I mean to write a book of reminiscences; to delve into my cupboard of memory and sort out all the junk. There is so much to write about, so many little pictures grave and gay, so many ideas to think about and disentangle and arrange. Looking back is a fascinating pastime; looking back and wondering what one's life would have been if one had done this instead of that, if one had turned left at the crossroads instead of to the right, if one had stayed at home instead of going out or had gone out five minutes later."

I hope February treated you well, book friends! I would love to hear your favorite DES titles! Let me know in the comments! 

I'll leave things here with a photo of the snow (at least a foot and a half and more on the way!) at our place in New Hampshire. Crossing my fingers that you'll join our D.E. Stevenson read-along for March, April and/or May! 🥰📕

Happy Reading and Tons of Hugs!! 💕❄️🤗❄️💕

Lovely Love Books 🥰💝✨❤️

Happy Valentine's Day, Friends! 😍💕💕

A wonderful Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow book by Molly Clavering!

How has February been treating you so far? It's still pretty cold here in New Hampshire 🥶❄️ (single digits at night and highs of 30s during the day) and we've still got over a foot of snow on the lawn. Trying to go to the backyard compost area is a challenge because the snow is literally up to (or over!) my knees 😂 

I've been loving chatting with Liz (@pony.books) about our upcoming trip to London in April (yippeeee!), buddy reading vintage YA and romances with Andrea (@sorrythankyou79) and talking to Gina (@gina.stanyer.books) about our planners/traveler's journals and all things cozy! 

Stories for Lovers by the British Library Women Writers Collection!

On Saturday, Ian and I are planning on going to our favorite local coffee shop (Sunny Cafe!), watching a show together (Downton Abbey...again!) and maybe getting Thai for dinner (yumm!). I'm sure Ian will also want to spend some time with his new-to-him pinball machine, Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man (Did I ever mention that Ian has an arcade/pinball/movie room in our house? See end of post for a photo of his pinball machine. Let me know if you want me to share a video or more photos of his arcade room!) and I'll probably knit on my Harry Potter-themed scarves while re-watching a favorite movie. 

Full of poignant short stories of so many lovely British Women Writers!

What are YOUR plans for V-Day this year? ☺️💓🎁 

Okay...onto the BOOKS! 

Here are all of the books in my collection that have "LOVE" in the title! I know I post a lot of these subject/season themed collections, but it's definitely a passion of mine - lol. Do you like having books organized by theme or season? I also like to organize my bookshelves by author or genre (vintage middle grade, children's, holiday, etc.). So...for now...here are my love books with ratings—I will add links to my reviews on Goodreads soon!

Beautiful Emma Bridgewater mug from Gina and Lovepop card from Ian!

LOVE BOOKS & RATINGS:  

💝 Love Comes Home by Molly Clavering 4🌟
💝 Stories for Lovers by British Library Women Writers 4.25🌟
💝 How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry 4.5🌟
💝 Paris—And My Love by Mary Burchell 4🌟

Lovely vintage Harlequin romances by Mary Burchell and some of my vintage makeup collection!

💝 The Love Child by Edith Oliver 4🌟
💝 Love by Elizabeth von Arnim 4.5🌟
💝 Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark 4.5🌟
💝 Love by Susan Branch 5🌟

Susan Branch books never fail to make me happy!

Best book everrrr! It's one of my all-time favorite books!

💝 No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym 3🌟
💝 The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford 4🌟
💝 Book Love by Debbie Tung 5🌟

Such a sweetly illustrated book about book love!

💝 Love is in the Earth by Melody 4🌟
💝 Caitlin Love Trilogy by Francine Pascal 4🌟
💝 The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman 5🌟
💝 A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott 5🌟
💝 The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love by Joan Medlicott 3🌟
💝 Paris in Love by Eloisa James 5🌟
💝 Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert 3🌟
💝 Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith 4🌟
💝 Peony in Love by Lisa See 3🌟
💝 Live with the Things You Love by Mary Randolph Carter 2🌟
💝 No Lovelier Spring by Lida Larrimore 3.5🌟

Lida Larrimore's vintage romances are so thoughtful!

The cutest book in the whole world!!

💝 Raggedy Ann: A Thank You, Please and I Love You Book by Norah Smaridge 5🌟
💝 Come Back to Me, Beloved by Kathleen Norris 5🌟

A 5🌟 Kathleen Norris novel - sooo perfect! A buddy read with Gina Stanyer.

💝 French Girl in Love by Maysie Greig 3.5🌟
💝 Odds on Love by Maysie Greig 4🌟
💝 The Laurel Bush: An Old-Fashioned Love Story by Dinah M. Craik 4.5🌟
💝 Love and Friendship by Jane Austen 3.5🌟
💝 The Book of My Beloveds by Esmerelda Little Flame 5🌟

I have poetry in this lovely book! Available on Amazon! 

💝 A Fine Romance: Falling In Love with the English Countryside by Susan Branch 5🌟
💝 Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book 3.5🌟
💝 Learning To Love Yourself by Gay Hendricks 4🌟
💝 The Last Letter from Your Lover by JoJo Moyes 5🌟
💝 The Demon Lover by Victoria Holt 3🌟
💝 The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold 4🌟
💝 Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith 3🌟
💝 Sweet Valley High books by Francine Pascal (too many to list with love in the title - lol!) generally all 3-4🌟

Love-titled books on a pink bamboo lace shawl that I knit myself!

LOVE BOOK TBR:   

Here is a list of all the books I'm hoping to read within the next year or less. Any favorite books listed here? See above photo to see some of the covers!

Photo from Dean Street Press Ltd. website. 

❤️ Love in a Mist by Susan Scarlett
❤️ First Love by Gay Head    
❤️ Look Back with Love by Dodie Smith
❤️ All for Love by Tasha Tudor
❤️ The Lovely Day by Dorothy Evelyn Smith  
❤️ The Long Love by Pearl S. Buck
❤️ How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh  
❤️ The Love Child by Fiona Hill
❤️ A World of Love by Elizabeth Bowen
❤️ Love for Lydia by H.E. Bates 

I would LOVE to know your favorite books with "love" in the title or any books that just give you that loving feeling 😊💓 

Wishing you the most wonderful Valentine's Day (no matter who you're with or even if you've taken a self-care day of your own!) and sending lots and lots of love from meeeeee! 

As always, I'll try to keep this list updated as the months (or years!) go by. If you ever use my list for anything fun, please tag me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or anywhere on social media. You can also email me: babsbelovedbooks at gmail dot com! ☺️✨🌸 

Ian's new-to-him 1980s pinball machine is so cool!

Ian playing his new Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man pinball!